MARGAO
Dempo Sports Club overcame Salgaocar FC 1-0 in the AIFF Under-13 Youth League at Panchayat ground, Nagoa on Saturday.
Salgaocar SC were the better team in the first 20 minutes with several of their long balls troubling the Dempo defenders. Dempo SC were slow off the blocks and had their first chance in the 20th minute when Dwayne Neto found himself in front of the goal with just a lone Salgaocar defender to beat. However Shahbhaz Khan's timely tackle averted the danger for the Greens.
A couple of minutes later however, Dempo were not to be denied when Dwayne Neto and Shreyash Naik combined with a brilliant one-two with the final touch coming from the latter.
The second half saw Salgaocar start strongly with their strikers and midfielders combining well.
The Vasco-based team felt aggrieved when they were denied two close penalty shouts. Coach Cajetan Fernandes was then sent off for protesting the referee's decision. Salgaocar though continued to pile on the pressure but the Dempo defenders thwarted every danger and several aerial balls were well cleared.
In the 67th minute, Dempo's Prajay Gawade was given the marching orders as he was shown the second yellow card within five minutes of coming on as a substitute. Salgaocar then had a glorious opportunity to level the scores in the 90th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Tarak Kandolkar unfairly tackled Salgaocar striker Adriel Rodrigues inside the box. However, Dempo goalkeeper Sail Parulekar stayed calm under the bar and produced a brilliant save to deny Gangaram Kharat from the spot.
With this win, Dempo continue their unbeaten run after five matches in the tournament and currently occupy the top spot.
